Dispensing equipment



Oct. 29, 1963 c. FAZEKAS DISPENSING' EQUIPMENT 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1959 l NVE N TO R CHARLES FAZE KAS M a) W ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1963 c. FAZEKAS 1 3,108,713

DISPENSING EQUIPMENT Filed May 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES FAZEKAS BY 1% S144] M1 um ATTORNEYS 1953v c. FAZEKAS 3,108,713

DISPENSING EQUIPMENT.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4. I FIG. 5.

Filed May 5, 1959 I l U INVENTOR CHARLES FAZEKAS ATTORNEYS United States Patent ware Filed May 5, 195?, Ser. N 811,037 2 Claims. (1. 221-197) This invention relates to dispensing equipment, more particularly to means for dispensing packages of frozen merchandise. 7

The evolution of contemporary merchandising techniques has given rise to a variety of equipment designed to implement and facilitate the storage and distribution of merchandise to the consumer particularly at the retail level. Where frozen merchandise is to be sold, refrigerated cabinets must be provided to maintain the merchandise in frozen condition pending purchase by the consumer. A variety of problems are engendered in the storage of frozen merchandise. Since the merchandise must be maintained at a given temperature to prevent spoilage, and must additionally be readily viewable and readily accessible to the potential purchaser, conventional apparatus comprises a waist high refrigerator cabinet having either a readily openable transparent top or a curtain of cold air directed over an open top and a refrigerated compartment within which the merchandise is stacked. Though generally solving the problem of maintaining the merchandise in accessible condition, difliculties arise due to the fact that the lower layers of merchandise within the refrigerated compartment often remain unvended and subject to spoilage due to age. Good merchandising management requires that replenishment of the merchandise in the refrigerated compartment should first necessitate repositioning of the remaining merchandise so that these previously unmoved items will be first available to the consumer. The difficulties involved in such handling procedures obviously serve only to increase inconvenience and costs of merchandising since each handling step aside from being time consuming, serves to raise the temperature of the merchandise, possibly permitting deterioration thereof. Additional problems arise in connection with the separation of various packages of frozen merchandise one from the other, since these packages tend to adhere due to the accumulation of condensate therebetween and the subsequent freezing of this condensate to form a bond between packages.

It is with the above problems in mind that the present means have been evolved, means permitting-the dispensing of packages of frozen merchandise in a fashion whereby the oldest packages of merchandise will be first dispensed, and whereby individual packages will be readily accessible to the consumer. Additionally novel means are provided permitting the factory formation of groups of packages of frozen merchandise ready for dispensing, whereby manipulation of the packages will be minimized.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide improved dispensing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide dispensing means specifically adapted to handling frozen packages of merchandise.

It is also an object of this invention to provide dispensing means for packages of frozen merchandise in which the frozen packages will be readily separable one from the other for distribution to the consumer.

It is also an object of this invention to provide dispensing means for packages of frozen merchandise in which the first or oldest package of merchandise in the dispensing equipment will be that which is first dispensed to the consumer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing mechanism the components of which are selfaligning thus requiring no adjustment during manufacture and subsequent maintenance.

Another object of this invention is to provide means permitting the utilization of factory prepared groups of packages of merchandise for dispensing, thus minimizing the required handling of the merchandise.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent in the following specifications and claims are achieved by provision of novel storage and delivery means adapted for positioning within a refrigerated cabinet. The novel storage and delivery means comprises a plurality of merchandise cartridges or magazines adapted for loading at the factory with packages of the merchandise to be dispensed. These magazines are arranged over a delivery carriage which is pivotally mounted beneath the magazines and is provided with means separating a lowermost packagein the magazine from those tiered thereabove, said means comprising an engaging lip in the form of a clapper shelf serving to exert a diagonal upward force against the lowermost package in the magazine to displace same with respect to the packages tiered in the magazine, thereby breaking any bond between this lowermost package and the others tiered thereabove. This lowermost package after release from the tiered group thereabove is oriented in the merchandise delivery carriage to a cocked position, then a pre-discharge position, and then is discharged to the consumer. This is accomplished by movement of the carriage which has package cocking means comprising a supporting lip in the form of a tilt tab beneath the engaging lip. The cocked pack- .age then moves to a pre-discharge position resting on a retaining ledge. Thereafter movement of the carriage forces the pre-discharge oriented package off the retaining ledge for delivery with the bottom wall thereof functioning as delivery means. Movement of the carriage is accomplished by means of a rotatable shaft having a radially stepped pusher or actuating arm serving to move the carriage and additionally serving to provide for a jarring action insuring proper orientation of the packages through the described cycle;

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a jolting finger on the pusher or actuating arm which jostles the tiered packages to insure their proper orientation through the dispense cycle.

Another feature of the invention resides in the clapper shelf which serves to break the bond between the tiered packages.

A further feature resides in the orientation of the packages through the dispense cycle where surface to surface contact between the two packages next in the cycle is prevented thereby preventing any adhesion therebetween. I

An additional feature of the invention resides *in the fact that the range of necessary clearances between the components are substantially self adjusting in operation.

Another feature resides in the fact that the package is rotated into a pre-dispense position about an. axis-over which it slides thereby permitting rotation of the package substantially within its own length, resulting in a significant saving of space.

The specific constructional details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of operation will be made most manifest, and particularly pointed out in clear, concise, and exact terms in conjunction with j the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the novel delivery carriage; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional detail elevational view through a delivery carriage showing how a package is released from the storage mechanism and oriented to a cocked position, and also showing a package being delivered; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the carriage and a package oriented to a pro-dispense position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be taken to designate like parts.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the novel vending: equipment comprises a storage chute in the form of cartridge or magazine 11 and dispensing mechanism 15.

Storage magazine 11, as best seen in 'FIG. 2 comprises an elongate sleeve formed of a sheet material such as sheet aluminum, steel, plastic, or the like, rectangular in cross section and made up of angle members at the corner appropriately joined. A spacer 12 is formed on the rear wall of the chute to implement its orientation in a manner to become hereinafter more apparent. =Flared flanges .13 are formed at the topmost part of the magazine to facilitate the insertion of articles of merchandise thercinto. At the lowermost part of the chute a supporting ledge 14 is formed on opposite sides of the chute to support the chute with respect to dispensing mechanism 15.

The novel dispensing equipment is formed with a rectangular sheet metal housing 16 and a plurality of dispensing mechanisms depending on the desired capacity of the dispensing equipment. In the instant disclosure four rows of four bank dispensing mechanisms are shown, however a single dispensing mechanism will be described, it being understood that the other illustrated components will be substantial duplicates of this described component.

Each dispensing mechanism comprises a dispensing carriage 21 as best seen in FIG. 3. Dispensing carriage 21 is formed of sheet material and comprises two opposite side walls 22 and 23 respectively, formed in the shape shown. A front wall is formed by means of front strap 24 connecting the lower part of side walls 22 and 23 respectively. The rear wall is formed by lower strap 25 and upper strap 26, spaced respectively to connect side walls 22 and 23. An engaging tab 27 having a' striker plate 28 thereon extends down from lower rear strap 25 for a purpose to become hereinafter more apparent. Bearing flanges '29 (only one of which is here shown) are arranged at opposite sides of upper rear strap 26. Upper rear guide strip 30 extends down from upper rear strap 26 and lower rear guide strip 31 extends up from lower rear strap 25. Rear shelf 32 is formed at the upper part of strap 26 for a purpose to become hereinafter more apparent.

Clapper 35 is pivotally supported with respect to dispensing carriage 21 by means of pivot levers 38 and 38' arranged respectively one on each side of the clapper and joined to side walls 22 and 23 respectively. A clapper shelf 36 is formed at the uppermost part of clapper 35, and an article tilt tab 37 is formed at the bottom of the clapper for a purpose to become hereinafter more apparent. Flanges 39 and 39 are formed at opposite sides of clapper 35 said flanges being apertured to receive an aligning rod 40 which will extend through a plurality of dispensing carriage clappers as best seen in FIG.' 1. Rod 40 extends through the clappers of a given bank of dispensing carriages and tie bar 41 is provided to connect the bottom of the clapper to the pivot point of the dispensing carriage, t-ie bar 41 and pivot lever 38 forming a parallelogram linkage.

Roller rod 43 having rollers 44 rotatably mounted thereon is secured between side walls 22 and 23 beneath clapper 35 to implement the orientation of an article of merchandise in the dispensing carriage.

Arranged in housing 16 beneath each row of dispensing mechanisms is a rotatably positioned operating shaft 45 mounted for rotation with respect to the housing. As best seen on the right in FIG. 1, this is accomplished by positioning shaft 4-5 through and between front bearing plate 46 and rear bearing plate 47. Actuating arms 48 comprising a jolt-ing finger 49 and a kicker finger 50 arranged in stepped relationship therewith, are secured to the shaft, one actuating arm for each of the dispensing carriages in the bank. In the four bank arrangement illustrated, four actuating arms 48 are employed each positioned about shaft 45, 90 degrees out of phase with the other.

Enclosing shaft '45 is a box like channel 55 formed of a plurality of spaced channel sections, having a b-shaped cross section with a stop flange 56 extending horizontally at a point to engage rear wall 25 of the dispensing carriage 21 when the components are in assembled relationship. A retaining ledge 57 is formed by the top surface of channel 55 at a slightly spaced distance beneath dispensing carriage 21.

Slots 58 separate the channel into separate sections, and actuating arms 48 move in said slots 58.

Operation In operation the 'afioredescribed components are designed particularly for use in the dispensing and vending of refrigerated merchandise. It will be understood however that a variety of other type of merchandise may also be dispensed by employing the instant mechanism.

Where the novel dispensing equipment 10 is employed in the dispensing of refrigerated items of merchandise such as frozen food packages, ice cream, or the like, the novel dispensing equipment 14) is arranged in a suitable refrigerated cabinet, and means are provided for rotation of operating shafts 45. These means (not here shown) may take a variety of forms, either being motor actuated, or manually actuated by means of a handle.

Where so arranged, storage magazines 11 which are preferably pre-loaded at the factory with the merchandise to *be dispensed are arranged, one magazine over each dispensing carriage 21. In the instant embodiment of the invention, designed specifically for the dispensing of ice cream packages, four rows of four, bank mechanisms are shown. It is contemplated that each row of dispensing mechanisms will handle a single flavor of ice cream package. Thus each of the magazines 11 arranged in a given row will contain ice cream of the same flavor.

Thereafter upon rotation of any one of the operating shafitsAS, the dispensing carriage 21 will be actuated to discharge a package of a given flavor.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, rotation of shaft 45 will cause one of the actuating arms 48 on said shaft to contact striker plate 28 of engaging tab 27 of dispensing carriage 21. Iostling finger 49 first contacts tab 27 and in moving thereover tostriker plate 28 provides jostling action as the striker plate rides over finger 49 and drops between jolting finger 49 and kicker finger 50. The slight raising of the vend carriage 21 produced by plate 28 riding over finger 49, and the subsequent drop of the carriage is transmitted to all of the components of the vend carriage 21,

and to the tiered group of packages above the vend carriage via clap-per shelf 36 which as seen in FIG. 4 is in contact with the lowermost package. The jostling acts to insure proper orientation of the packages. Subsequent rotation of the shaft 45 causes kicker finger 50 to move against tab 27 and striker plate 28 and to force the dispensing carriage to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. In this FIG. 4 position the lowermost package which has previously been resting in a pre-dispensing position on retaining ledge 57 as seen in FIG. 5 is forced off the ledge dropping to an appropriate discharge (not shown). At the s-ame'time, the'package immediately above the dispensed package moves from a cocked position on article tilt tab 37 above the package previously in pro-dispensing position. Simultaneously, clapper shelf 36 moves against the lowermost package in magazine 11 exerting a diagonal upward pressure against a lowermost side of said package with the result that the package tends to tilt with respect to the other packages tiered therea-bove in the magazine. This has been empirically determined to result in separation of any conventionally encountered frost bond between frozen packages. This package which has been broken away from the tiered group in magazine 11 moves downwardly to the previously mentioned cocked position as best seen in FIG. 5. This of course does not occur until the previously cocked package has moved through an arc pivoting over rolls 44 on roller rod 43 to the predispensi-ng position.

It is thus seen that novel dispensing equipment has been provided particularly suited for the dispensing of frozen The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

6 What is claimed is: 1. Dispensing equipment permitting selective delivery of packages of frozen merchandise, said equipment comprising: a cartridge adapted for factory loading with packages of merchandise; a dispensing carriage tiltably positioned beneath said cartridge; a clapper pivoted on said carriage engaging a lowermost package in said cartridge to exert a diagonally upward force on the package to separate same, Where it may be dispensed; a tilt tab secured to said clapper to maintain the separated package in a cocked position and tilting the package to a pro-dispensing position prior to delivery; a clapper shelf formed on said clapper to wedge against a lower corner of the lowermost package in said cartridge as said carriage is tilted; a pusher arm movably mounted adjacent said carriage to effect movement thereof; and a jolting finger secured to said arm to jolt the carriage and the packages to insure the movement of the packages from the cartridge to the carriage. 1

2. Dispensing equipment as in claim 1 in which a retaining ledge is formed beneath said carriage to retain a package in said carriage in a pre-dispensing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 949,223 Dunning Feb. 15, 1910 1,196,103 Giles Aug. 29, 1916 1,259,216 Eaton Mar. 12, 1918 2,606,803 Whelan Aug. 12, 1952 2,770,392 Roberts Nov. 13, 1956 2,873,012 LuX Feb. 10, 1959 

1. DISPENSING EQUIPMENT PERMITTING SELECTIVE DELIVERY OF PACKAGES OF FROZEN MERCHANIDISE, SAID EQUIPMENT COMPRISING: A CARTRIDGE ADAPTED FOR FACTORY LOADING WITH PACKEGES OF MERCHANDISE; A DISPENSING CARRIAGE TILTABLY POSITIONED BENEATH SAID CARTRIDGE; A CLAPPER PIVOTED ON SAID CARRIAGE ENGAGING A LOWERMOST PACKAGE IN SAID CARTRIDGE TO EXERT A DIAGONALLY UPWARD FORCE ON THE PACKAGE TO SEPARATE SAME, WHERE IT MAY BE DISPENSED; A TILT TAB SECURED TO SAID CLAPPER TO MAINTAIN THE SEPARATED PACKAGE IN A COCKED POSITION AND TILTING THE PACKAGE TO A PRE-DISPENSING POSITION PRIOR TO DELIVERY; A CLAPPER SHELF FROMED ON SAID CLAPPER TO WEDGE AGAINST A LOWER CORNER 